Resilient mounting for vehicle seats



c. NOTH June 10,

RESILIENT MOUNTING FOR VEHICLE SEATS Filed July 2l, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l mh W. w`nm a N 5. uw Z P w a Mh M E u i, A W 0 mmv f j June 10,. 1924- 1,497,632

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Patented June it), 1924ia UNITED STATES CHARLES NTI-I, OF NEENAH, WISCONSIN. .y ,d

RESILIENT MOUNTING FOR VEHICLE SEATS.

Application filed July 21, 1922. Serial N0. 576,592.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES Norm. a citizen of the vUnited States, residing at Neenah, in the county of lWinnebago and State of llilisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Resilient Mountings for Vehicle Seats, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved seat construction for bicycles, motorcycles and the like.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of a spring supported seat post for vehicles, such as bicycles, motorcycles and the like, which cooperates with the frame of the vehicle to which it is attached in such manner as to insure an effective working arrangement, giving comfort to the rider, and acting as a shock absorber in this respect.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a resi liently supported seat post construction for bicycles, motorcycles and lthe like,A which is relatively simple7 compact.

in arrangement, and which'can be easily attached to the standard frame construction of conventional bicycles and motorcycles.

,An important object ofr this invention is the provision of a device adapted for accessorial use in connection with bicycles and motorcycles, embodying improved means for spring suspension of a seat post, and which is compactly assembled for trade use. necessitating no alteration inorder to provide for its attachment to standard makes of bicycles and motorcycles and which does not require any skilled labor to effecty such attachment.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, ,forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:y

Figure l is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, showing .details of the improvediseat post construction as embodied in a supporting frame.

Figure 2 `is a transverse ksectional view, .taken substantially on J[he line 2-2 of Figure l.` Y y l Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partlyin section. taken on the line 3`=3 of Figure 2i vFigure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure l, and showing improved details of the rcsiliently supported seat post.

Figure is a transverse sectional view, taken substantially on the line 5--5 of Figure l.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional View, taken substantially on the line 6-Gof Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the seat construction of a bicycle, showing its adjacent frame supporting arrangement.

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown but the preferred embodiment of this invention, the letter A designates a vehicle, such as a bicycle or motorcycle, embodying a frame B; seat device C; and supporting construction D for seat C.

The frame B of vehicle A may be of different types of construction, such as those now found in conventional use, and embodies a tubular seat post receiving member l0, having a horizontal cross bar ll-'attached thereto at the upper end in such way as to permit free access to the `passageway yl2 of said tubular member l0' from its upper end. A rear fork construction 13 is provided. the same being attached adjacent the upper end of the tubular member l0 upon the side thereof opposite to the ycross bar construction 1l.

Referring to the seat arrangement C. the same may be of the various kinds provided for the type of vehicle A, embodying a saddle member 20 supportedfat its rear end by the saddle springs 2l, and at its front end by the forwardly extending spring 22, which is provided with a clamping member 23 adapted for attachment to a horizontal portion 24 of the novel seat post 25 embodied in this invention.-

Referring to the supporting construction D, the seat post 25 thereof is of the general formation generally provided of seatposts, and includes the horizontal portion 24 above mentioned, and the depending stem portion 28, which is provided with a longitudinal slot 29l extending axially therethrough Jfrom its lower end 30 and open at opposite sides thereon: said portion 28 of the seat post 25 being adapted for plunger act1on 1n the passageway 12 of the frame tube 10 in a manner to vbesubseip1ently described. An attaching member 32' is preferably provided, which includes a head portion 83 ot ring shaped formation, having thecentral opening 34 therein, through which the portion 28 ot the seat post slides. A guide yoke 36 is integrally formed over the ring shaped head 3S, extending upwardly'trom the plane dened thereby, and which supports the rela rtivelylong rod 38, rigidly therewith.` The head portion 33 is provided with an annular groove 39 in the lower surface thereof circumferentially about the passageway 34, and 'ivhiclris provided for receiving the upper marginal Vportion of the frame tube member 10,50 thatthe yoke 36 extends upwardly and e'Xteriorlyo the tube 10, with the rod 38 depending ai'ially through the passageway 12 ofthe frame tube V10..

VThe seat postQ is adaptedy for cooperation v'with' the attaching member 32. and the slot29 'slidably .receives the yoke or cross piece 36 therein, vas well as the rod 35i. ln order :to normally maintain the seat post '25, in an upper .resiliently supported position with respect to the attaching member `32, a spiral spring '40 is supported by a washer 4.1; said washer41 being adjustlably mounted upon the extreme lower or free end of the rod 38, as by means of the 4lock nuts 44.V The spring 40 is normally lunder compression to torce the postfQ upwardly with respect to the attachingl ring pportion', Vand in order to effec-,t such result, the .upper end ot the spring engages the lower marginal portion v4ot the post 'A pin or detachable countersunk `screw 46., is detachably and transversely provided through the stein portion 28 of thel'seat post 25. laterally o'lithe longitudinal center of said stein portion 28. Vand which extends transversely through the longitudinal slot 919, and normally engages the lower surface 48 of the yoke portion so. that the "spring 40 may be maintained nntler an initial compression to resiliently support the post 25.' Various apertures 49 maybe provided longitudinally of `the stem portion 28 ot' vthe. seatpost 25' as Vshown in l?igur'el4. which, are adapted .for receiving the detach ablegsvcrew member 46., so that the initial*compression of the spring may be varied,"according to the weightot the ldriver l oitrv the vehicle Alfa nd Awhich can readily be erstood is a.. desirable and important "arran ementt V Y Y i I' attachment of, the supporting. constitu tion D 4to the frame YB, a `air oi bolt J50 fare provided. depending below the ion fot the attaching member '32 A rably formed rigidtherewith. the sam t tiling at anV acute angle to the plan'egtle'tined ring'portion 33. and being provided 'for insertion through passageways 51 provided in a clamping block member 52, which is ath ted for placement at the juncture ot the rame 4fork 'll and the tube 10: the extreme tree ends 5i?) ot the bolt stems 5() beingl threaded and adapted t'or receiving adjusting` mits 54 so that the stems may engage upon opposite sides of the tube 10 and be clamped in the block o2 l'or secure attaclnnent ot the ring member -ll to the top of the tube 10. Thus, the device l) is attached to the vehicle `trame ll with the spring extending into the passageway l2 ol' the. trame tube 10. and the stem portion Ztl of the seat post cooperating in plunger like manner within said passageway 1&2. the spring` 40 normally resiliently su] iporting the same.

In order to prevent any lateral sway of the seat arrangement (l, a link connection Ful is pretembly provided. including a clamp member 57 tor attachment to the cross bar 11 ot the trame li; a pair ot elamn members 5.5i and 59 adjustably held in position by means ot the bolt (i0 to detachably engntffe the forward couvolutions (l5-l ot the spring seat 22: and a connecting link til' pivotally connected at one end by means ot a bolt (l2 to the clamp 57` and at its other end pivotally connected by a bolt G3 to the clamp pieces 5S and 59. By this arrangement. the scat arrangement C is prevented lrom lateral sway, by reason ot the tact that the linl: arrangement 56 cannot` sway laterally, but is tleiible iu a vertical plane. so that the seat construction (l may readily ride in vertical manner to insure the comfort ot the driver.

From the foregoing.description of this invention, it canfbe seen that a very compact seat post construction has been provided` which is susceptible of universal attachment to conventional vehicles. merely requiring the attachment of nuts 54 to the bolt stems 50 in order to insure the mounting of the same in proper position upon the vehicle `frame B. The upper limit of movement ot the seat construction C is defined by the posit-ioning ot the cross pin or screw member 46 in its engagement with the bottom surface 48 of the yoke portion 36 of the attaching portion 32. On the other hand, the lowermost movement of the seat (l is controlled by engagement of the slot end surface 60 with the top surface 61 of the yoke portion 46. so that there `is no lia-bility of injury to the post const-ructiouD by reason of excessive weight or shock beingimposed thereon. As the vehicle A is propelled` the stem 38 will ride in plunger like manner within the passageway 12 of the trame tube 10. so 'that during reciprocation in the. frame 12, the seat (l will be supported by the spring '40 as can readily be understood.

Various changes in the shape. size, and arrangement of parts may be made to the tltl form of invention herein shown and described without departing from the spii'it of the saine or the scope of the claims.

I claim: 1

l. In a seat post construction, the coinbination of a tubular support, a rod, means mounted on the uppei end of the tubular support to depend said rod therein, a spring carried in said tube by the inner end of said rod, and a seat post resiliently supported upon said spring.

2. In a seat post construct-ion, the combination of a tubular support open at an end thereof, a rod, a cap member formed rigid With said rod for attachment over the open end of the tubular support, a seat post having a,v slotted stein slidably extending through said attaching cap into the interior of said tubular support, said rod extending into the tubular support, and a spring carried Within said tubular support by the inner end of said rod normally engaging the inner end of said seat post stem to 'resiliently support the said seat post.

3. In a seat post construction, the combination of a tubular support open at an end thereof, a rod, a. cap4 member formed rigid with said rod adapted for attachment over the open end of said tubular support, a seat post having a slotted stem slidably extending through said attaching cap into the interior of said tubular support, said rod extendinginto the tubular support, a spring carried Within said tube by the rod normally engaging the inner end of said seat post stem to resiliently support the seat post, and means for adjusting the tensionof said spring( 4. A seat post construction comprising a tubular support defining a passageway therethrough and having an end thereof open, a cap member attached over the open end of said tube and having anopening therein aligning with the passageway of said tube` a seat post including a stein having a slot therein, aspring supported Within said tube, said seat post normally extending slidablv through said cap opening to be resiliently supported by said spring, and means carried by said seat post stem and extending through the slot therein for engagement With said att-aching cap to normally limit outward movement of said seat post with respect to said cap, and to maintain said spring under an initial coinpression.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination With a supporting frame open at its upper end, of an attaching member secured about the upper end portion of said frame and extending over the frame, a spring in said frame, means for supporting said spring connected With said attaching member and extending into the frame through the open upperV end thereof, and

having means engaging the lower end of the spring to support the spring, a seat post slidably extending into said frame through the open upper end thereof and having its lower end resting upon the upper end of said spring, said post being normally urged upwardly by said spring, and 'means for securing said attaching member to said frame. i

6. In a device of the class described the combination -With a supporting frame, of an attaching member connected Withsaid franie, a spring in said frame, means for supporting said spring from said attaching member, a seat post slidable'in the frame longitudinally of the spring and spring supporting means and normally urged inl one direction by said spring, means for securing said attaching member to said frame, and means carried by said seat post for engaging said attaching means and limiting movement of said seat-post to normally maintain said spring under an initial compression for resiliently supporting said seat post.

7. Ina device of' the class described, the combination with a supporting frame, .of an attaching member connected with 'said frame, a spring in said frame, means for supporting said spring from said attachingV member.v a. seat post slidable in the frame longitudinally of the spring and spring sup; porting means and normally-'urged 1in- Que direction by said spring, means forsecuring said attaching member to said] frame; means carried by said seat post'for engag-` ing said attaching means limiting movement of said seat post to normally maintain said spring under an initialcompression for resiliently supporting said seat. post. said means being adjustable to vary the initial compression of said spring.

8. As an article of manufacture, a seat construction comprising an attaching member having an opening therethrough provided With an offset portion extending into said opening. a spring, means for supporting said spring from said attaching member, and a seat post slidably carried through the opening of said attaching member having a slot therein vtor slidably receiving the offset portion of said stem attaching member, said seat post having an end thereof engaging said spring in order to be resiliently supported thereby.

9. As an article of manufacture, a seat construction comprising an attaching member having an opening therethrough provided With an offset portion extending into said opening, a spring, means for supporting said spring from said attaching member, a seat post slidably carried through the opening of said attaching member having a slot therein for slidably receiving the offset portion of said stem attaching member, said seat post having an end thereof engaging said spring in order to be resiliently supported thereby, and a pin transversely carried by said seat post extending through the slot therein and adapted for engagement with the offset portion of the yoke of said attaching member in order to maintain said spring under an initial compression for resiliently `supporting said sea-t post.

10. In a device of the'class described, the combination with a frame including a fork portion and a tubular portion open at an end thereof, of a cap member including a ring shaped portion having a passageway therethrough, and a yoke portion extending over said'ring shaped portion transversely of the passageway therethrough, means for detachably securing said ring shaped portion of lthe cap member over the upper end of saidtubular frame portion, a rod carried by the yoke portion of said cap member and depending axially through the passageway of said tubular portion of the frame, a spring carried within said tubular member on the lower end ofsaid rod, a seat post including a slotted stem portion slidable through the opening o said cap and having said yoke portion extending through the slot thereof, said stem engaging said spring within said tubular member to be resiliently supported, and means to prevent detachment of said seat post with respect to said frame.

11.` As an article of manufacture, a seat post construction comprising an attaching capk including a ring shaped attaching portion? providing 4a passageway therethrough the opening of the ring shaped portion ot 1 the attaching cap to have the yoke portion of said attaching cap slidably disposed in the slot thereof, a spring member, adjustable nut means supporting said spring meniber upon the lower endV of said rod. and

detachable pin means adapted `tor selective adpistment through the stem portion of said Vseat post and extending through the slot therein for engagement with the yoke portion of said attaching cap spring may be maintained under an initial compression for resiliently supporting said seat post.

l2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a supporting frame and a seat, of an attaching member secured to said Jframe, a. spring, means for supporting said spring from said attaching member` a sent post slidably carried by said attaching member and said frame to be normally urged in one direction by said spring, and means connected to said seat and to said frame to prevent lateral movement of said seat with respect to said frame and permitting vertical movement thereof.

y. CHARLES No'rn. 

